"Freedom to convert" is counterproductive as a generalized doctrine. It fails to come to terms with the complex interrelationships between self and society that make the concept of individual choice meaningful. Hence, religious conversion undermines, and in extremes would dissolve, that individual autonomy and human freedom.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Hindus back to the fold in Varanasi

A total of 425 people belonging to 97 families of two villages under Harhua block of Varanasi district returned home on March 27. These people had about three years back embraced Christianity. All people were welcomed home by the leaders of various organisations like Shri Rajesh Ram, convenor of Sant Ravidas Dharma Sabha Samiti, Berwa, Shri Akhilesh Ram, co-convenor, Shri Shamsher Bahadur Singh, village Pradhan of Berwa, Shri Madhuban Yadav, village Pradhan of Chakka and leaders of Rashtraveer Suheldev Dharma Raksha Samiti. After the formal home coming ceremony all people had meals together and were presented Hanuman Chalisa.

The home coming ceremony was held at the premises of primary school, Chakka, about 15 km from Varanasi. More than 800 people participated in the sahabhoj organised after the ceremony. The people who retuned home told the mediapersons that they had been allured and misguided by the people of Christian Missionaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Abhay Kumar, Vibhag Pracharak of RSS, said the identity of the country is Hindu. He said the growing conversion activities have worried not only the nationalist organisations, but also all the sensible people of the society. He appealed to the Hindu society to abolish the practice of untouchability and unite removing all differences. He said after the Shabari Kumbha in Gujarat, the missionaries had moved from Dangs to the eastern belt of Uttar Pradesh especially in Kashi and Jaunpur districts.

Shri Pramod Singh of Dharma Jagaran Vibhag said more than 1900 Christian priests were active in 1500 village of Varanasi district alone. He said within two years they had purchased more than 500-acres of land in this region. Shri Ramapati, convenor of Dharm Jagaran Vibhag, Jaunpur, said if Hindus did not abandon the wrong practice of untouchability and superstitions they would become a minority in their own country. (Loknath Yadav, VSK, Varanasi)